Cigar-box.



No. 658,4l4. Patented Sept. 25, I900. I W. M. WILLIAMS.

CIGAR BOX.

(Application filed Mar. 28, 1900.) (No Mandel.)

UNITED STATES {PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. WILLIAMS,- OF BLAND, VIRGINIA.

ClGAR -BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 658,414., dated September 25 1900;

Application filed May 23, 1900. Serial No. 17,747. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM M. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bland, in the county of Bland and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Oigar-Box, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cigar boxes or packages; and the object of the same is to provide simple and effective means for facilitating the packing of cigars in separated inclosed quantities within an ordinary box commonly employed for containing cigars, so that a dealer will be enabled to withdraw from the main containing-box the exact number of cigars desired by a purchaser without the delay incident to packaging the same by the ordinary methods, the individual containing devices being easily opened to permit inspection of the cigar or cigars therein.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cigar box or package embodying the features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the withdrawal packages contained in the box.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views. I

The numeral 1 designates a box which in all essential features is similar to the ordinary cigar-box and with the exception that both the top and bottom are closely fastened or sealed and one side is removed. Horizontally disposed in the box midway of its depth is a partition 2, which is formed with openings 3 at regular or desired intervals, and rising therefrom and extending completely to the top of the box are vertical partitions 4,

which are also open for a portion of their length. Between the said horizontal partition and the bottom of the box 1 are other vertical partitions 5, which are also open,'and by having the said partitions open the structure of the device as an entirety is materially lightened and also the air is permitted to circulate therethrough to a limited extent, particularly after portions of the device have been removed, as will be presently explained. The edges of the several partitions exposed through the open side of the box 1 are continuous, and the different vertical partitions are spaced apart various distances, in a longitudinal direction. The solid portions of the horizontal partition form horizontal guides and supports, and the vertical partitions provide separating mediums for the withdrawable support of cases or inclosures 6, all of the same length, but varying in width to receive difierent quantities of cigars. Some of the cases or inclosures have a capacity for one cigar,otl1ers for two, three, four, 850., and they are disposed transversely of the box 1, as will beseen. Theendsof cases,which are normally flush with the open side of the box 1, are preferably provided with pull-rings 7 and also suitably hinged and at their top central portions are formed with longitudinal recesses 8 and 9, respectively, in the top edge of the hinged ends and in the adjacent portions of the tops of the same to give place and free-. dom of operation to catch-springs 10, secured to. the said top-portions of the cases and having outer bent or hooked ends 11. When the cases are located in the box 1, as shown by Fig. 1, the bent ends of the catch spring under the outer portion of the horizontal partition and the similar part of the top of the box 1 to thereby hold the said cases against movement accidentally from the box or until released intentionally by forcefully pressing the bent or hooked ends of the springs downwardly. These cases are to be made of inexpensive light material, so that they may be handed to the purchaser Without removing the cigar or cigars therefrom and to be taken by him as a part of his purchase, and thus avoid the delay incident to insert the cigars in Wrappersor envelops, as in'the customary method of selling cigars. At the same time the purchaser is given a case or inclosure for preserving the cigars while being carried in the pocket and this will be all-inducement to buy the cigars put up in this manner.

A further and most important advantage of the invention is that a number of difierent brands of cigars can be placed in one box and each kind sold separately without exposing the others, so that they will not lose their flavor or dryout, as they do in anopen box.

Another advantage is that the retailer can obtain a number of different brands of cigars in one box instead of having to buy as many full boxes of the individual brands as he now has to do in order to keep the same variety in stock. At a proper point and to fully com- V ply with the revenue laws a revenue-stamp o zontal partition in the box, a plurality of Ver tical partitions above and below the said horizont-al partition arranged at diiferent distances apart to form compartments of Varying dimensions,a series of cases corresponding in number to the number of the compartments and completely closed on all sides and at the ends, the cases being equal in length to the width of the box proper and having one end of each hinged for opening purposes, and catches of a yielding nature applied to the top portion of the outer ends of the cases to hold the latter against accidental disengagement from the box properand retain the hinged ends closed, the said cases being adapted to receive diiferent brands of cigars and to be delivered to the purchaser as a means of containing the cigars.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM M. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

J. O. HONAKER, L. D. REPASS. 

